News - Windows 8 apps sync and run on the Xbox One says Dell

[HEXUS]

Confirms Microsoft’s OS unification strategy is heading to the living room.

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[Cog]

But can it play games?

[Otherhand]

And in the other direction: since I have a WP8 phone, I still can't understand why we can't have Smart Glass for Windows games too. Is there even a plan to bring that to us too? Crazy that I can only install SG on my W8 PC in order for my PC to play as companion to an XBox (that I don't have).

[flufflogic]

Eh, if it means I don't have to use IE to browse the net, that right there is an improvement.

[cptwhite_uk]

I'm just not sure people want a unified device right now. It's all very noble and I would suggest possibly in the future it might be more socially accepted, but I just can't see this being right for 2013. The mind set is still of the Xbox One being a gaming console primarily and people will not be buying it for any reason other than this.

As a young 30 something PC-gamer I can feel myself falling behind the technology curve. Technology is moving so fast into so many areas of our lives and the complexity is dizzying even for someone like me. I'm sure many tech enthusiasts feel exactly the same - I'm never felt the need for a twitter account, I've barely used Instagram, Pinterest, Delicious, Digg It etc. Facebook - one form of social networking is good enough for me. Similarly I don't need Netflix to be accessible from my smart watch (which is almost inevitable right?), access to Gmail on my console...etc etc.

I guess the point I'm making is complexity (read: additional functionality) isn't always the best course of action, especially in the current climate of various confusion of completing devices, services, form factors, preparatory OS and software and so on.

I might be wrong, maybe the time is right for a unified device, be the public will still be buying the Xbox One as a console, not a media / internet access point.

[edzieba]

The thing is, I already HAVE a 'unified device': it's called a PC. The XBOne is only unified for Microsoft's services; if I want to use any others, then I'm back to the PC. And at that point, why bother doing things through the XBOne at all other than gaming? When compared to a full PC, it's got a somewhat anaemic CPU and embedded GPU, limited IO (bet that the W8 build it's running won't accept arbitrary peripherals), limited program availability, no upgradability, etc. The XBOne just can't compete.

[elmerlin]

The point of having a cut down version of what is essentially a PC is that it streamlines development to cut out infinite permutations of hardware. There is for sure more stability and control on any system if the boundaries of its capabilities are locked down somewhat.

I do think that we are all converging towards unified media device but as you said 2014 is not the year to embark on that. The difference will still be that a PC that produces graphics comparable to the best on XBox One will cost probably double of what the XBox One will cost.

[nightvine]

And in the other direction: since I have a WP8 phone, I still can't understand why we can't have Smart Glass for Windows games too. Is there even a plan to bring that to us too? Crazy that I can only install SG on my W8 PC in order for my PC to play as companion to an XBox (that I don't have).

i have a nokia lumia 920 with winphone 8 which has smart glass instaled my iphone 3gs also has sg instaled the only phones that wouldnt install on are my lg optimus 3d and my brothers lumia 620 because of not enouth ram

[bert7]

The thing is, I already HAVE a 'unified device': it's called a PC. The XBOne is only unified for Microsoft's services; if I want to use any others, then I'm back to the PC. And at that point, why bother doing things through the XBOne at all other than gaming? When compared to a full PC, it's got a somewhat anaemic CPU and embedded GPU, limited IO (bet that the W8 build it's running won't accept arbitrary peripherals), limited program availability, no upgradability, etc. The XBOne just can't compete.

You missed the point, its the millions that will have one cos it has windows on it for the living room and xbox and have you tried that "anaemic CPU", don't think so, the man on the street will love it and it will perform in all aspects in just one box with kinect and your laptop, phone and everything under the sun.

[K3V]

tbh, if they stick office on it then you've got the full package, home/business the lot - (if it gets kb/mouse support)

[edzieba]

You missed the point, its the millions that will have one cos it has windows on it

No, millions will have it because it has xbox games on it (and less will buy it because it has Netflix et al on it, due to being burned by the Live subscription requirement). For the average consumer, it'll have right up until "why doesn't <actual windows program that is not a W8 app> work on it?" before they'll give up on bothering to try.

[addz17]

So its looking more like a crippled gaming PC than a console now? Suppose that's a good thing. Smartglass, tv, sports and apps? Well done, Phones, Tvs, tablets, laptops and PC's already have that stuff covered ffs.
Microsoft has left a bad taste in everyone's mouths after trying to screw over gamers everywhere at launch so how about they do something that's actually beneficial to gamers for a change and make the new forza and other microsoft exclusives available on Microsoft PC's!
Yea, i know its Microsoft they know best (not the customers) just keep shoving tiles and kinect down peoples throats while sony/apple/android get more market share.

[Otherhand]

i have a nokia lumia 920 with winphone 8 which has smart glass instaled my iphone 3gs also has sg instaled the only phones that wouldnt install on are my lg optimus 3d and my brothers lumia 620 because of not enouth ram

Yeah, but what I mean is Smart Glass for PC - so that I can play games on PC, and use the phone for the additional content (maps, minigames, collaborative play, etc). So far, you can put Smart Glass on almost any decent smartphone but the only games machine that's going to get serious consideration appears to be XBox One.

[Otherhand]

I'm just not sure people want a unified device right now. It's all very noble and I would suggest possibly in the future it might be more socially accepted, but I just can't see this being right for 2013. The mind set is still of the Xbox One being a gaming console primarily and people will not be buying it for any reason other than this.

As a young 30 something PC-gamer I can feel myself falling behind the technology curve. Technology is moving so fast into so many areas of our lives and the complexity is dizzying even for someone like me. [...]

You're definitely not alone, but this is a situation that can change very fast for the whole market. I'm different to you: a little bit older, and I have to use Twitter and other social media for promotion, so it's part of life. I love my WP8 phone, and I recently installed Windows 8 on my PC too now that 8.1 is here. For users like me, there's a lot to like about unified accounts. My PC sign-in is a Microsoft account, since I'd already set one up on my phone. I really like the way everything connected up without any more input from me. I made an entry in my phone Calendar to tell myself about a doctor's appointment, and the moment my phone trilled to remind me I had a reminder appear in the top right of my PC's monitor too. The apps and logins I use on my phone were instantly in place on my PC too. The Store is the same. If I get an XBox One, I'll see it as an extension of that personal network. I assume the integration is broadly similar with other mobile OSs too, give or take a few things.

I understand you might always resist, and I have no idea if you're in the majority or not, but if you are then you won't be for very long. I wasn't really missing this stuff before, but now I've seen it, I would find it hard to justify going without it.